The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held at Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29, marking the first time the event will be held in Las Vegas. Additionally, the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be the first event televised live from Sphere.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made the official announcement during the broadcast of the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery. “The NHL is proud to bring the first sports event and the first live television broadcast to Sphere,” said Steve Mayer, NHL senior EVP and chief content officer. “Together with the amazing team at Sphere, we plan to deliver an NHL Draft like no other, introducing the bright future of hockey in an innovative and exhilarating setting.”

The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will take place over two days: Friday, June 28 (Round 1, televised on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet and TVA Sports, starting at 4 p.m. PT) and Saturday, June 29 (Rounds 2-7, televised on ESPN+, NHL Network, Sportsnet and SN1, starting at 8:30 a.m. PT). NHL club executives, scouts, and coaches will be present on the NHL Draft floor, while thousands of fans and hundreds of print, television and radio media are expected to attend.

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand AVNetwork

CBS Sports has released the technical details behind its 22nd broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday Feb. 11, introducing several new production elements—including new camera angles and configurations along with cutting-edge graphic enhancements—to deliver what the network calls “an incomparable multiplatform viewer experience.”

The game will mark the first time that CBS Sports will present the Super Bowl in 1080p High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 4K HDR. While Fox and NBC were the first networks to offer 4K and HDR feeds in 2020 and 2023 of the Super Bowl, those feeds were upscaled from 1080p HDR. The last time CBS broadcast the big game was during the pandemic in 2021 which presented its own unique set of challenges. 

CBS will deploy 165 cameras across the network’s entire  presentation of the game on the CBS Television Network, Paramount+ and on mobile with NFL+, along with the Nick-ified telecast exclusively on Nickelodeon, as well as pregame, halftime and postgame coverage on THE NFL TODAY originating live from the Las Vegas Strip and Allegiant Stadium.

In all, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ—Paramount's free, 24/7 streaming sports news network—will provide more than 115 combined hours of Super Bowl LVIII coverage throughout the week prior to the game, with shows primarily originating from CBS’ central broadcast location at Bellagio, beginning Monday, Feb. 5 at 6:00 AM, ET. CBS Sports Network will have extensive coverage with more than 75 hours of programming from Las Vegas throughout Super Bowl week, including studio programming and radio show simulcasts. The CBS broadcast will be available to stream via Paramount+.

For the kids, Nickeodeon will provide "slime" based coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. (ET). with "Super Bowl LVIII Live from Bikini Bottom," featuring enhanced graphics and advanced augmented reality, "bringing the historic Slime-filled telecast to SpongeBob SquarePants’ undersea home," the network said. This this marks the first time in NFL history that the Super Bowl will be broadcast in two different formats, according to CBS Sports.

Among the technical highlights this year is an increased emphasis on 4K zooms, with 48 cameras with super slow-motion capability—Half of which are 24 4K zoom extraction cameras—a record number for a Super Bowl, according to CBS. Those cameras will showcase a range of angles inside Allegiant Stadium, including from the ceiling, along the goal lines and embedded inside the endzone pylons. 

New this year are so-called small “Doink Cameras,” inserted into upright cutouts, with six 4K cameras capturing “unprecedented” angles of field goals and extra points, the network said. Cameras will have high resolution zoom capability and also be made available for super slow-motion replays.

With Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl for the first time, CBS Sports will take advantage of its unique skyline, which now includes the world famous Sphere. Three sky cams, two fly cams (including a “trolley cam”) and three drones will be utilized between the stadium and areas of the Strip, including the Sphere. Twenty-four live robotic cameras also will be mounted inside the stadium and as well as throughout the city to showcase high altitude vantage points of Las Vegas.

CBS Sports will also deploy 23 augmented reality cameras—11 on the CBS broadcast, eight on Nickelodeon and four at the set on the Strip. A collection of AR graphic enhancements will be integrated into coverage, including graphics over the Bellagio fountains utilizing a drone and fly cam, as well as virtual AR studio showcasing Las Vegas Boulevard.

For VR fans, specialty graphics implemented during Super Bowl coverage will transport players to Las Vegas Boulevard, while a VR experience will transport viewers to the set on the Strip.

The network will also use a real-time 3D Animation Graphics Packager based on Unreal Engine—an immersive real-time 3D animation graphic tool—for its studio and game coverage. 

Other enhancements include: 

• Shallow Depth-of-Field Cameras – 5 shallow depth-of-field cameras will showcase players up close on the field with a cinematic feel.
• “Red Cat” POV Cameras – A creative POV tool utilizing aftereffects and accelerated live post-processing by stabilizing, focusing and time re-mapping to present replays in a dynamic way.
• Techno Movie Bird Crane – A 53-foot movie bird crane traditionally used for major motion pictures will be located on the upper concourse, offering dramatic sweeping views of the stadium.
• Falcon 360 Camera – An immersive camera showcasing vivid panoramic views of the venue.
• Wireless RF Cameras – 12 wireless remote frequency cameras, including two “line to gain” vantage points.

With the curtain set to rise on the 2023 NAB Show and the event having reached centenarian status, it’s interesting to examine how it came to be and follow some of its twists and turns in going from infancy to becoming the “biggest and best” gathering of broadcasters and content creators on the planet.

Its origin is closely intertwined with the launch by Westinghouse of KDKA radio in late 1920. This experiment in wireless delivery of news and entertainment on a regularly scheduled basis was a game changer, arousing public attention as never before. Soon new stations were taking to the air on almost a daily basis, with hundreds in operation in just a relatively short time. 

With no established precedents or business models to follow, some of these first-generation broadcasters recognized the value in banding together to share knowledge and protect common interests, leading to the chartering of the National Association of Broadcasters in April 1923 and the first-ever “NAB Show” held later that year.

While little information survives, we do know that it was a single-day affair attended by only a few, and by later standards would seem rather anemic, with activities mostly centered on business matters such as performance royalties, the need for additional spectrum (a concern even then), and regulatory issues. As there were few equipment manufacturers, the technology displays were not a part of that show. (Exhibits at early NAB Shows came chiefly from the NAB and member stations. Technical displays did not appear until the show’s second decade.)

A Show For All Seasons
While the NAB Show is a rite of spring for many—seemingly always occurring in April and always in Las Vegas—this April/LV pairing is relatively recent. (Also, for many years the event was referred to as a “broadcasters’ convention.”)

New York City served as the backdrop for that 1923 show, with the event taking more than half a century to reach Las Vegas for the first time, and not becoming a yearly event there until 1991. After spending its first five years in the Big Apple, the show was moved to Washington D.C. in 1928. 

Seven years later, it began to move around, convening in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Detroit, Colorado Springs, San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlantic City, and even trying out resort hotels in White Sulfur Springs, W. Va., and West Baden, Ind. 

Since its inception, the NAB Show has been hosted by no less than 17 cities and in almost every month, skipping only December and January, and taking 20 years to convene in April for the first time.

A heavy snow slowed down proceedings at the November 1932 conference, triggering a schedule reevaluation that pushed the event—with one exception—into warmer months from then on. (However, even that didn’t guarantee good weather at the late-March 1987 Dallas show, where snow showers and bitterly cold temperatures greeted attendees.)

After a Century, Who’s Counting?
Even though the show has been scheduled every year from 1923 on, the recent pandemic forced two cancellations, and the 1945 wartime event was kyboshed by a government order directed at freeing up transportation and lodging for military and defense industry personnel. (The directive banned meetings of more than 50 persons from outside the community hosting the event). 

And technically speaking, there was no “NAB Show” from 1951–1957, as the organization temporarily rebranded itself as the NARTB (National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters) to recognize TV’s rise to prominence. The yearly gatherings continued, however, under the NARTB banner.

Broadcast technology was initially only a small part of early NAB Shows, but as the annual event entered its second decade, tech began to command an increasingly greater  share of attention, with the 1935 program including a report on the status of television in Europe, and the first mention of an NBC Show “engineering committee” meeting found in a report on the 1936 convocation. It was small by later standards—eight persons, with WSM’s legendary Jack DeWitt serving as chairman.

Several technical displays were featured at the 1937 event, with exhibitor Western Electric unveiling one of the first commercial audio processors, its model 110A “program amplifier.”

State-of-the-art tech made its presence known in a really big way at the 1939 Atlantic City, N.J. show, with RCA and NBC engineers setting up “high-definition” 441-line cameras and encouraging attendees to be “televised.” Photographic screen shots made it possible for those conventioneers posing before the iconoscope cameras to prove it to folks back home. As summed up by a trade publication: “…the photos will undoubtedly be cherished in later years as relics of the pioneer days of television.”

That 1939 show also included an eerily prophetic comment from New York Times radio editor, Orrin E. Dunlap Jr. “Today it may seem that television is creeping at the pace of a glacier. But by 1950 broadcasters will be deep into… television. The ice age will not last forever.”

(Dunlap’s address was read by an NAB staffer as he was unable to attend the show.)

‘First Looks’
In addition to providing many attendees with their first look at television, the NAB Show has also served as the launchpad for many more broadcasting technological innovations. New breakthroughs introduced included color, 3D and HDTV; UHF transmission; ENG; communications satellite linkage; timecode editing; the dawning of digital technology; server-based video playout; solid-state transmitters; chip sensor cameras—the list goes on and on.

Perhaps the most memorable tech rollout occurred at the 1956 Chicago NARTB, with Ampex ushering in not only a new technology, but a sociological game-changer with their introduction of the videotape recorder. The unveiling had been kept secret, and when wraps were taken off, the machine instantly became—and remained—the focus of attention at the show with the electronics firm receiving orders for some 80 of the $50k VTRs (more than $44 million in today’s money).

The number of attendees and exhibitors has risen steadily since the inaugural 1923 event. Over the next decade, hundreds attended, eventually surpassing 1,000 as the 1940s began, and has continued to climb almost every year. (In addition to the “VTR unveiling” the 1956 show is remembered for a (then) all-time high attendance that exceeded 4,500.)

By the time of the 1977 Washington show, registration had swelled to nearly 13,000, totally overwhelming the city’s limited convention resources. (There was no convention center then, requiring the conference to be spread over three hotels connected by shuttle buses.) Hotel rooms were also in short supply, leaving upwards of 100 registrants with no place to stay. 

Feathers were ruffled so much that the NAB vowed not to return the show to Washington until at least 1984, (it never did). Broadcasting magazine summed things up: “The NAB passes but D.C. flunks.” (A similar lodging issue at the 1947 Atlantic City show also earned that city a spot on the NAB’s “no more shows there” list.)  

The number of attendees has continued to grow, hitting more than 100,000 by the 1990s. The number of exhibitors and exhibit space has increased correspondingly, with more than 1,800 spread across more than a million square feet of floor space in 2016. 

Although attendance at the first post-pandemic show was substantially down from the show’s all-time high, the 2023 NAB Show will likely see an even higher number than the 52,468 who registered for the 2022 event. We hope you will be one of those who help swell that number as this “show of shows” moves into its second century! 

Sidebar:

Moments of Drama
NAB Show veterans know that they can sometimes expect the unexpected—sometimes above and beyond the unveiling of a revolutionary product, especially as high-level government officials, members of congress and even heads of state occasionally make appearances. At least two of the shows are especially memorable in this regard. 

An appearance at the 1941 NAB Show in St. Louis by then FCC Chairman James L. Fly sparked political fireworks that made headlines across the country. Just days before the show, Fly released a draft of new rules that would greatly impact business relationships between networks and their affiliates. The Commission’s “Report On Chain Broadcasting” quickly met with condemnation from major networks and NAB alike. 

Verbal blows came to a head at the show with past-NAB President Mark Ethridge lambasting Fly and the report, and Fly countering by repeatedly referring to the NAB as a “so-called” organization and likening the way the broadcasting industry operated to a “dead mackerel in the moonlight…that both shines and stinks.”

Following Fly’s remarks, then-current NAB president, Neville Miller, called for a congressional investigation of the FCC, and questioned whether “the state of mind exhibited by Mr. Fly qualifies him to be chairman of a government agency calling for judicial impartiality.”

Broadcasting magazine’s Sol Taishoff described the politics unleashed at the show as “the most tumultuous of its 19 years,” adding “For acrimony and invective, the convention had no parallel in NAB annals, and it will probably be recalled in radio history as the “'Battle of St. Louis.'"

(Fly was a no-show at the 1942 event.)

A half-century later, an anti-nuclear activist managed to slip past security and onto the dais at the 1992 Television Luncheon where former President Ronald Reagan was receiving the NAB’s Distinguished Service Award. Before the intruder was subdued, he managed to smash a large crystal statue that had been presented to Reagan, startling the former chief executive and showering him with glass shards. 

Fortunately, Reagan was not injured, the protester was wrestled to the stage and  removed, and the former president continued with his speech. 

However, there were plenty of frazzled nerves among those who recalled John Hinckley Jr.’s 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan (which occurred rather ironically at one of the three hotels hosting the final NAB Show to be held in Washington).

LAS VEGAS & BRISTOL, Conn.—ESPN is setting up shop in Las Vegas, as the sports network has partnered with Caesars Entertainment for a new studio space that is debuting on Aug. 24 and will be the new home to ESPN’s “Daily Wager” starting Sept. 8.

The studio, which resides in the LINQ Hotel + Experience, is intended to be the home of ESPN’s sports-betting content, including “Daily Wager” and a sports-betting-themed digital show launching this fall.

ESPN’s new facility is 6,000 square feet and features three studios, 12 cameras—including two robotic cameras—and ESPN’s REMI production workflow with 24 transmit and receive paths to ESPN control rooms and technical operations around the country. ESPN says that this is its first facility to be fully capable to support native 4K, and is set to launch in 1080p.

“Our new studio with Caesars is ideally located in the middle of The Strip and has been designed and built out with state-of-the-art UHD 4K-capable technology, a first for ESPN,” said Chris Calcinari, senior vice president of remote production operations, ESPN & ABC Sports. “We will leverage this technology and our innovative REMI production model to serve this growing audience of sports fans with the quality content for which ESPN is known.”

In addition to the original content that ESPN will host through the studio, the space will play a role during major sporting events taking place in Las Vegas.

For more information, visit ESPN’s website. 

LAS VEGAS—NextGen TV took a major step forward with the launch of ATSC 3.0 over-the-air commercial television service in Las Vegas from network affiliates owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group and The E.W. Scripps Company.

The stations, Sinclair’s KSNV NBC and KVCW CW affiliates, Nexstar’s KLAS CBS affiliate and Scripps’ KTNV ABC affiliate, are sharing a single 6 MHz channel and transmitting from Sinclair’s tower on Black Mountain outside the city. The launch is significant because it is the first full-power, multistation commercial deployment of NextGen TV in the country. BitPath, formerly Spectrum Co, led the planning and coordination efforts to put the stations on air.

Mark Aitken, Sinclair vice president of Advanced Technology and president of ONE Media 3.0 LLC, discusses the Las Vegas 3.0 launch, the cooperation among competing broadcasters needed to make it happen and what the rollout means more broadly for NextGen TV deployment and to him personally.  

(An edited transcript.)

TVTechnology: Congratulations on the NextGen TV commercial broadcast rollout in Las Vegas along with Nexstar and Scripps.

Mark Aitken: Let me tell you, in the midst of COVID-19, this has been a fairly monumental task to pull this off. 

TVT: How have you managed to do that during the pandemic?

MA: The fact that we have been able to get this together in the midst of a pandemic without the deployment of additional resources is remarkable. We have not flown anybody into or driven into the market. We are using on-ground personnel. 

We are using ready-baked solutions. For instance, when it comes to video distribution, we’ve gone to LTN. When it comes to switches that allow the flow of IP packets as relates to ATSC 3.0, it’s conventional Cisco gear. We’ve got cloud-based solutions that are being played out and ready-made hardware. We’ve done all of this without deploying additional in-market resources.  

TVT: Tell me about the setup. Is NextGen TV being transmitted from a Big Stick or via a single frequency network (SFN)?  

MA: We are making accommodations for an SFN in the near future. Actually, those efforts were underway for NAB, but lack of hands on ground due to the COVID-19 outbreak sort of postponed that.

So it’s our Big Stick. We are converting our primary station in Vegas, KSNV, the NBC affiliate, to 3.0 and we are doing channel shares with Scripps and Nexstar in the market.

TVT: How are you allocating the bits among the three broadcasters’ four ATSC 3.0 channels?

MA: You know, that’s a question that comes up in every one of the channel-sharing/host-station discussions. In the days when you had just one stream and it was a transport stream, it was fairly easy to say, “We are going to give you X amount of bits as your capacity.” And you would multiply those inside your transport stream.

Because of 3.0’s multiple operating modes, it really comes down to what we call spectrum utilization. You have fundamental, sort of atomic, building blocks for all of the standards, and there’s a finite, fixed amount of those that are referred to as samples. You have a sampling rate.

So, we look at the spectrum and in a certain sense, we are saying to all four partners, “You’re going to have an equal share of that spectrum capacity. Choose your operating mode.”

The operating mode is chosen, and that yields X amount of bits. Three of the four are sharing one physical layer pipe [PLP] and the yield to each of them is on the order of 6-plus Mb/s.

That is the level of service that closely approximates ATSC 1.0 in receivability over the air. Then there is one PLP for the NBC, which is operating in a robust PLP with lower signal-to-noise requirements and is aiming to be received both in the conventional over-the-air environment as well as by portable and nomadic devices.

There are so many issues. The carrier-to-noise is one of those issues. Doppler is another. There are all of these interrelated components.

By the very nature of 3.0, it will be possible to view on a portable and nomadic basis. But all of these channels within the Las Vegas market will be viewable on simple handheld, portable and nomadic devices.

There is an extra level of robustness for the NBC station. That station is operating at about 8dB better C/N performance.

PLUS: ATSC 3.0 Deployments: Where and When Will NextGen TV Be Available?

The NBC channel is taking the NBC mezzanine level standard 1080i feed, and with professional equipment is being converted to 1080p with sampling conversion to HDR via SL-HDR1. So the NBC programming will actually come across with TV sets that support HDR and SL-HDR1. Those devices will display HDR. 

Devices with an ATSC 3.0 receiver but standard dynamic range are capable of receiving the signal and displaying content.

TVT: Are Nexstar and Scripps also doing 1080p?

MA: The networks are not providing extended content, so not everybody is taking the best feed that is available to them, which is typically a mezzanine level, high bitrate AVC that’s being converted to HEVC.

TVT: Tell me about BitPath’s (formerly Spectrum Co’s) role in working with these competitors to bring about an agreement to share a channel for 3.0 service and accommodate the 1.0 channels displaced by 3.0 rollout.

MA: They were the driving, coordinating force in the hosting agreements for all of the participants. And we prefer to think of them as hosting agreements. So BitPath is preparing the way to engage multiple broadcasters—and this has always been the business plan. 

TVT: Where do you go next after the Las Vegas rollout?

MA: This is the first of many. We have a cascading series of launches. Next month, we are looking at Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City. Directly on the heels of that, we’ve got Nashville. So, June is going to be a very busy month doing the same thing with multiple partners, broadcasters, in those markets. 

We have literally not let up on the gas of transforming markets.

TVT: Transforming?

MA: This is transformational. This is not just about transitioning from one standard to another, but it’s transformational in that it provides new business opportunities. 

You think about the announcement from FCC Commissioner [Brendan] Carr last week on broadcaster utilization of 3.0 for data delivery, IP bit delivery. Those things become transformational for all of broadcast TV.

TVT: As the economy weakens and looks to be headed for recession due to COVID-19, do you anticipate Sinclair pulling back on plans to roll out 3.0 markets?

MA: First, I am not going to comment on the long-term economic impact of COVID. Obviously, there is an impact.

When you look at how you transform a market, the primary step in that transformation is converting an ATSC 1.0 site to ATSC 3.0. That is not a huge capital outlay, so the transmission facility already exists. 

These are brand new transmission facilities. They are repacked channels. They are almost universally new transmission systems, so this is not a huge burden.

Everybody is looking at the future of their business. For a modicum of investment, they can begin to make that transformation process. I think more and more broadcasters are looking at this and saying that it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

It’s more difficult to figure out how to move video around in that market. I have to get permissions from the network, permissions from syndicators and providers to move it from one physical channel to another, but the physical channel replicates coverage within a market. 

You get all that stuff done, and all of a sudden the ball begins to roll.

TVT: You have affiliates for NBC, CW, CBS and ABC involved in this Las Vegas rollout. Is this a sign that the networks are onboard with 3.0 and willing to accept things like simulcasting their content on a 1.0 and 3.0 channel where they had objected to a similar scenario when Mobile DTV (ATSC M/H) made its failed attempt to get traction?

MA: The fact is that with M/H to get the networks to sign onboard, what you were doing was inside of your spectrum was a simulcast. And there is a lot of legal “thou shalt and thou shalt nots” in the licensing of content.

And it was happening at a time when content providers were engaged in getting content onto the other wireless mobile platforms, and nobody wanted to stand in the way of that.

I think the real signaling that is coming out of a cascading series of markets that are coming online is No. 1, the broadcasters are committed.  No. 2, the content providers understand the success of reaching people wherever they are with the best platform that is available to them.

So, if you were a content provider and you are trying to reach the largest audience you would not preclude a new entrant—think of ATSC 3.0 as a new entrant in terms of carriage because it is different kind of over-the-air. I would say it’s a Kumbaya moment, but everybody is working as civilized capitalists who are looking for opportunities, including ones that may reshape the wireless landscape.

TVT: What does this launch mean to you personally?

MA: It’s emotional. You know, the company and our people have done a lot of firsts. The first ATSC 3.0 was done in Vegas by us for a Korean audience; the first mobile use of 3.0 was demonstrated in Las Vegas with an STA [special temporary authorization from the FCC]. 

[It’s been] eight years in the planning on this standard. But to see internally the entirety of our organization now focused on this as its future, that is probably the most rewarding piece of almost 21 years of stepping up to the plate to place a multidimensional standard and toolkit into the hands of broadcasters.

You actually managed to have me draw a few tears on that one. It’s monumental. This is my lifetime achievement. And I did not do this alone. Together, we are reinventing the future for broadcast television.

LAS VEGAS—Sinclair says KVCW, the company’s CW affiliate in Las Vegas, will begin broadcasting in ATSC 3.0 on May 26, marking the company’s first commercial deployment of the NextGen TV standard.

KVCW was originally scheduled to launch 3.0 broadcasts just prior to the NAB Show in April, but the launch was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which also resulted in the cancellation of the annual event. 

“Out of sheer caution, we decided to take a pause to determine the nature of COVID-19 engagement that was required—a lot of broadcasters had to take a step back,” said Mark Aitken, senior vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair and president of ONE Media LLC, a subsidiary of Sinclair focused on NextGenTV. “We really needed to sign off the 1.0 hosting players and it took a little extra time. We have a whole slew of deployments coming along, this will be the first of several.”

Sinclair is partnering with three other Vegas commercial TV stations to co-host KVCW’s 1.0 programming:

• KTNV, the Scripps-owned ABC affiliate, will host KVCW’s 1.0 CW programming;  
• KLAS, the Nexstar CBS affiliate, will host three of KVCWs diginets: TBD, ThisTV and Comet; 
• KSNV, Sinclair’s NBC affiliate, will self-host NBC and carry MyNet as a diginet

KVCW’s 3.0 programming will consist of  CW, CBS, ABC and NBC programming. All four stations will share equal portions of the spectrum, with Sinclair’s portion, “highly robust,” according to Aitken.  

Whether any viewers will be able to view 3.0 content depends on the availability of receivers. Samsung, LG and Sony all announced that NextGen TV sets will be available this year; thus far, Samsung and LG have announced that such sets are currently available at retail. According to the ATSC, 3.0 will be launched in more than 60 markets, reaching 70% of all viewers in the U.S. by the end of the year. 

The affected stations have been providing crawls at the bottom of their screens notifying viewers of the 3.0 launch for the past week. 

Although the pandemic has altered the work of its engineering staff in terms of the “new normal” of broadcasting from home, Aitken says SInclair has spent the past two months bringing its technicians up to date on NextGen TV.

“Internally we’ve been focusing on a fairly massive educational campaign with our regional engineers and chief engineers for the transition,” he said. “We’ve taken a different focus on readying those markets because we’re relying on local/regional engineering talent that doesn’t have to hop on a plane. It’s more of a ‘tap the brakes’ type of effort to spend some additional time educating them.”

Although KVCW marks Sinclair’s first commercial deployment of ATSC 3.0, the company has been partnering with other stations to test 3.0 over a signal frequency network in the Dallas area for the past several years.

For more information on ATSC 3.0, visit TVT’s hub page on NextGen TV.

This story was updated to reflect that LG's NextGen TV sets are now available.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—NAB Show 2020 could see a rise in vendors using 5G to demonstrate their technology after AT&T announced the launch of its 5G network in the city.

The exact details of where 5G is available in Vegas haven’t been revealed, so we don’t know if the LVCC will be among the sites where it’ll be available.

Las Vegas is the 20th city to get AT&T’s 5G mmWave network (what AT&T calls “5G+”). AT&T has limited its launch to business users for the time being.

“We are proud to introduce 5G+ to Las Vegas,” said Stephanie Tyler, AT&T Nevada state president. “Being the first to Las Vegas, and the first to 20 cities across the US, is a testament to AT&T’s commitment to our future. This next generation wireless network will be game-changing as we explore the many opportunities and experiences it will bring. This technology will advance businesses and their customers as they become increasingly mobile and more connected.”

Here we are, just days away from the 2019 NAB Show. As I’ve done each year, I build on all my other former NAB blogs to create a new “what you need to know for NAB.” For me, this is NAB #29, and I’m still excited about the show.

First thing to know is this looks to be the last NAB Show with a Thursday exhibit day. Yes, after many years of a Monday through Thursday exhibit floor, they’ve moved to a Sunday through Wednesday show floor event. If you didn’t catch it, Paul McLane has written about this change.

There will still be the shuttle buses, overcharged-for-convention center food and drinks and sore feet. After attending so many shows, I’m always very appreciative of the amount of work (and money) that manufacturers invest in this show (thus making it possible). This IS the BIG show for the U.S. broadcaster and many international broadcasters as well!

I enjoy seeing so many familiar faces and friends from the past (from engineers, old co-workers, to manufacturers), and making new friends is always welcomed too. If you are new to the NAB convention, I’d say the best part of the show is the contacts you make within the industry. Sure, you’ll learn a LOT about the “latest & greatest” gear, but one year later you’ll be learning about all the NEW “latest & greatest.” But the contacts and friends you make will be there year after year!

For me personally, I’m looking at both radio, and the upcoming 4K/UHD video systems as I’m in the process of a $3.5 million upgrade to all-4K at New World Center (for the New World Symphony). I’ll be running around, getting sore feet, but having a great time in “nerd heaven!”

I’ve already been planning my show and need to point out for those who are returning that there are some changes that occurred last year worth recalling. Some of the events at the event rooms/ballrooms between the North Hall and the Westgate (AKA formerly the Las Vegas “Elvis” Hilton), have moved into a space in the North Hall, and it’s now called the Main Stage. That, in itself, was a major change.

Many of the radio equipment manufacturers are centralizing in the North Hall. The remainder of the North Hall building has a mix of media management, some TV gear manufacturers along with specialty pavilions like Sprockit, the Startup Loft and the Futures Park. With the main stage eating up a quarter chunk of the North Hall (where it was last year), it seems that many of the TV gear folks have moved over to the South Hall. Unlike last year, expect South Hall to be full of manufacturers, and that’s both the upper and lower floors!

As I said, this is my 29th consecutive NAB Show and they’ve all been in Las Vegas since I started attending. There have been so many changes over the years. Vegas is constantly in transition, so new casinos and hotels are up, while some (many) that were in Vegas in 1990 have been demolished or (significantly) remodeled. Monte Carlo is now MGM Park and fully remodeled. There’s always so much to see … and Vegas is a “world” constantly in change.

The convention itself has changed in many ways. At one time, seeing a computer by itself or standalone software was more of a rarity. Solutions to broadcasting were nearly all based on hardware, so there were a lot of physical “products” and a lot of variety to how they appeared. Then there were things called “tape recorders” that were analog, and later on new “digital tape recorders” of both the audio and video variety. Radio used reel-to-reel models, turntables, EBS equipment (now, of course, EAS), in addition to these crazy things called “cart machines” full of fun parts like pinch rollers, capstans with problems like phase/azimuth issues. Ah, the “good old days!”

TV solutions were generally “bigger” while usually doing less and along the way there was a new thing that they were talking about called “High Definition TV.” Rumors were going around about radio maybe going digital and in 5.1. There was no word in 1990 about streaming radio because it was simply impossible to get any quality when you dialed up your provider at 14,400 bps and heard that familiar “answer and screeching” before the sound muted on the modem.

In the TV world, it was tubes, tubes and more tubes but now the talk is of 4K/UHD with 8K around the corner. Japan’s NHK started 2019 by showing a 70mm transfer of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and HDR (High Dynamic Range) is now a thing.

Many years ago, the convention center could no longer hold the NAB Show, so they moved part of it to the Sands Convention Center. That required more “bus time” (and lost time) shuttling between the Sands and the convention center. Then the South Hall was added, and now we see SU and SL (South Upper and Lower) on our maps.

There’s now talk of a “subway” to run from the farthest end of the South Hall to the planned new addition across Paradise Road, in the parking lot where the old Landmark Hotel was and stretching over to the backlot of where the Riviera used to be.

We saw the addition of the monorail years ago and it has come to be a great way to get to the LVCC. If you are at a hotel on the east side of the strip where the monorail runs from the MGM up through the Westgate (or, for “old timers” the old Hilton) to the SLS or, for “old timers” the old Sahara). Still waiting and hoping that eventually Vegas loops both sides of The Strip with the monorail.

Over the years, many dignitaries and celebrities have come and gone to the show. I’ve “stumbled across” people like Gary “Radar” Burghoff to Sherman “George Jefferson” Hemsley. Many friends have passed away or moved on to other career fields. A lot of old engineers decided to “get out of the rat race,” while many others saw new opportunities in radio and TV. But the NAB convention remains a great time to learn and grow and a great time to catch up with old friends and make new friends!

So whether a new person to the NAB Show or an “old timer,” here’s a look at some new things around Vegas and some things worth knowing about the convention and Las Vegas. Stay tuned in the middle of the links for my list of things you should REALLY know about the convention. The list grows every year. If you’ve gone to the show less than, say, five times, it might be of real benefit to read this.

Firstly, if you’ve been to Las Vegas before, you know it’s a city constantly changing so it pays to do a little research on the new things. Here’s one link with “the Cliff’s Notes.” And here is more information.

Packing Your Suitcase

This is funny, but I had never seen “a good way to pack your suitcase” video before until I saw this one and thought it looked like a good way.

And here is another person using the same method (with the Benny Hill “Yackety Sax” background music).

Fly Healthy

Flying to Las Vegas (or anywhere) is always a little bit of an experience. From the friendly TSA agents wanting to make sure “everything is good,” to the “cattle car” (AKA flying coach in a plane). WebMD has some great advice for traveling to stay healthy while being cramped up next to the sneezing, hacking person and the crying baby.

Speaking of TSA Agents

From Business Insider, here are 12 tips that can get you through the airport a little faster.

Things I’ve Learned:

Now for this short pause from the links as I share “the secrets” to having a much better NAB convention (at least the things I’ve found over the past 28 years):

Wear Comfortable Shoes!

You will walk … and walk … and walk some more in Las Vegas. And everything looks a LOT closer to you than it really is! Especially if you are on The Strip and see a hotel or casino “just down the road.” Warning! It isn’t “just” down the road.

A couple of years ago I stayed downtown and thought “that’s an easy walk” to the convention center. Rookie mistake. It ISN’T!

Be Prepared for Peddlers and “Hawkers”

The good Las Vegas weather allows for a lot of people to solicit for money or push “cards” (I say cards because anyone who has been on The Strip know what these are … but for the most part, you probably do not want these cards!) I just say, “No thanks” and walk by. As for the peddlers or panhandlers, what I can tell you is what a friend told me who works feeding the poor and hungry. If you truly want to help, donate to organizations that help these people. Handing them money often supports “needs” other than food or housing.

Big City Safety

Be aware of your surroundings. There are lots of international travelers who are confused, lots of panhandlers, some “unstable” people and even some unscrupulous people in Las Vegas. Be aware of people around you, especially away from the convention center or on The Strip. Keep bags or purses with strap from one shoulder to your opposite side (making it harder to grab and run). Keep bags zipped up and close by.

Turn your wallet sideways in your back pocket or keep it in a front pocket. There are pickpockets in any big city and Las Vegas is no different. Keep track of credit cards and watch them around taxi drivers and people who might take them from your sight while scanning them. About 10 years ago a driver used an old mechanical machine claiming his electronic wouldn’t work and within hours my credit card was used in Louisiana—while I was still in Vegas!

Keep your senses and never let yourself partake of the partying aspect to the point where you no longer are in control (you’ll see plenty of people doing that). Don’t get me wrong that it’s dangerous and unsafe, but it is a big city with a lot of tourists and you just need to be aware.

Sign Up for “Players Clubs” and Rewards Programs

If you drop money in “one-armed bandits,” don’t do it unless you sign up for the casino rewards programs. I know many people are smart enough NOT to do this (I’m not one of them), but at least know you may potentially get some benefit from your losses. I usually get a free meal or a discounted/free room on my next visit.

Also, wherever you stay, you don’t have to walk away an “unsatisfied customer.” If something is not up to your expectations or liking, they often will make it right (like a discount or free room on the next visit). This IS Vegas, and they are experts in the “hospitality business.” There are a lot of choices, and they prefer you stay with them.

One thing I repeat is avoid telling them “I’m here for the convention.” The reason is conventioneers spend less time and money on gambling, and that’s the customer they want! I don’t lie, but I say “I’m here with a lot of my friends all having a good time.” Okay, mildly stretching the truth, but it makes the casino/hotels more interested in making sure you’ll be back to THEIR casino/hotel next time.

Don’t Sit at a Bar and Let a Chatty Person of the Opposite Sex Sit Next to You and Become Your “Friend”

One year a nice enough lady spent 20 minutes next to me talking up a storm at Quark’s Bar at the old Star Trek Experience in the former Las Vegas Hilton (yes, I’m a nerd). Had a nice enough time talking to her (this was before there was a Mrs. Slentz, of course). When I went to leave, I found out the bartender had dropped her tab onto mine (yes, scammed!). Chalk this up to “live & learn.”

Spiffs & Floor Freebies

Companies used to give away a lot more of these things 20 years ago, but look around for these things and grab some for home, work, your significant other or kids. My wife and daughters always have fun going through the “bags of goodies” on my return. (And thanks to the companies that still “find it in their hearts” to give away little trinkets.)

Show Planning

Prior to the show, many people (myself included) make appointments and plan to visit particular manufacturers on the “floor” of the massive Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s actually several “floors.” Look carefully at where they’re located. Schedule appointments or visit manufacturers who are close to each other on the floor. There’s nothing worse than doing this haphazardly where you have a 9 a.m. appointment in the North Hall, then a 10 a.m. in South Lower, then back to the North Hall at 11. You’ll get the point. (*See above “Wear Comfortable Shoes”)

Make Friends and Get to Know Manufacturers

I almost hate to have to say this, but this is the best opportunity to forge great relationships with the people on the floor selling the gear that you use or want to use. I can’t begin to count the number of friends I’ve made over the years. They’ll be lifesavers when you need help with gear or have questions, and some of the friendships will last many, many years (even as some manufacturer’s reps move to selling gear with other companies). Oh, and have sympathy for them since they’re on their feet the whole time and stuck in one place. For me (and those of us attending and not showing), the convention is a little less work and probably a lot more fun than it is for the good people working the booths.

Dress for the Day

Vegas nights can get cool. Just watch the weather forecast and be sure to keep in mind that you might be still out after dark and walking around. It gets cool in the desert at night. And I wouldn’t worry too much about rain. In my nearly 30 years, I think it’s only rained a little maybe on two days. And only one year was it actually cool (and windy!) most of the week. Otherwise the weather is great! Again … just do a little preplanning and check the weather before you start your day.

Oh … and between the constant air conditioning in the hotels and convention center, and the fact that you are in the desert, plan for dry skin and dry lips. Bring Chapstick and some sort of hand lotion. Many hotels provide a travel-size bottle of hand lotion as part of their bathroom offerings. Grab it and put it into your pocket when you leave the room in the morning. Vegas’ April weather generally runs in the upper 70s to low 80s, though the direct sun can be much warmer. At night it can get quite chilly with a temperature in the mid to upper 50s.

Be Prepared

If you were a Boy Scout or in the military, this may be second nature … If you do a lot of walking (after the show), there seems to be a lot of bees … so those with sting allergies shouldn’t forget their EpiPens, etc. And pack all the necessities like antacids, pain relievers, Band-Aids, etc. They can get expensive buying them at the convention center, in hotel gift shops or off of carts.

If You Aren’t Prepared

Know that anything you buy in the casinos or hotels is more expensive than a regular store, much less a store back home. There are drug stores on The Strip where you’ll find the things you’ve forgotten at a much better price than in hotels and casinos. Same thing with cash. Avoid the casino ATMs as the fees are terribly high. Use your “Boy/Girl Scout” skills and BE PREPARED!

So these things are just a few of the most basic tips I can provide to those new to the NAB Convention or Vegas. Have fun and enjoy a great show and wonderful learning opportunity!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming …

Vegas Weather

After many trips to Las Vegas for the NAB Show, as previously mentioned, it’s generally pretty nice weather. If you’re coming from Ohio, it’s going to be a LOT nicer (probably), but coming from Miami, you’ll find similar temperatures but a major lack of any humidity. For the week of the NAB (4/6 through 4/11/19), the weather calls for highs in the mid to upper 70s (a little cooler on Saturday 4/6 at 73 degrees), with the nighttime chilling down to about 51 degrees. So heading out in the morning, it will be chilly. Then by the time you leave the Las Vegas Convention Center, expect it to be hot (81 degrees on Thursday 4/11). But if you’re attending an after-hours party, it can be chilly if “you’re hoofing it” after sunset. In the years I’ve been there, the most notable thing is the wind. It sometimes really picks up. And if it’s evening or the temps haven’t gone up, it cuts through you. As for rain, in 28 years and as previously mentioned, I only remember two days with some rain. You’re not very likely to get wet … but you never know. You really do need a medium to light jacket after sunset. Also keep in mind that the hotels and casinos sometimes run things on the cold side with their air conditioning. Keep this Accuweather link handy.

Vegas for the Solo Traveler

If you don’t happen to be traveling with co-workers or friends in Las Vegas, there are still a lot of options on things to do without being in a big group. Of course, there are a LOT of show opportunities to meet with other broadcasters and manufacturers so grab those opportunities when you can. But if you are looking for some things to do for the “solo traveler,” here are some ideas from Esquire.

Solo Safety

I’m originally from a small town in Ohio. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to live in places like Madrid, Denver and now Miami, so I’m pretty aware of how to stay safe in big cities (though, to avoid jinxing myself, you still must always be aware of your surroundings). If you are traveling solo, take time to review this information of staying safe.

LOTS to Eat in Vegas

There are a lot of great places to eat in Sin City. From the all-u-can eat places in about every casino to the big names in cooking. I found a few worth mentioning. First, I’m not a big steak fan, but The Steak House in Circus Circus deserves mentioning. It’s been voted “the best steak in Vegas” for 30 years … and there’s a good reason. There wasn’t a scrap of steak left on the plate. Just incredible. Sure, Circus Circus isn’t the top destination for many, but you’re missing the best steak ever if you don’t visit The Steak House.

Further on down the strip, Aria has their buffet. As a big fan of Alaskan snow crab legs, I’ve got to mention that this place is beautiful and the food is awesome. As opposed to MGM, where they serve snow crabs on ice, Aria has them steamed hot with lots of butter. Delicious!

If you’ve ever watched “Hell’s Kitchen” on TV, you’ve seen Chef Gordon Ramsay. I discovered the Yorkshire ale batter fish & chips at his Pub & Grill inside of Caesar’s Palace is awesome and the service is really good! On the flip side, it’s on the expensive side at about $30.

And when I worked for Hubbard Broadcasting, Mr. Hubbard liked the Hash House A Go Go inside the Linq hotel and casino (formerly the Imperial Palace). If you’re hungry, bring a BIG appetite. I’m not kidding when I say I really think a family of four could easily eat the food delivered on just one plate. They call this “Twisted Farm Food.” Another awesome choice!

Old Vegas Pics
Here are some pics of the original Flamingo (a la Bugsy). This website, vintage Las Vegas has lots and lots of great photos from Vegas’ history (since most gets demolished).

Vegas Trivia

Las Vegas is certainly an interesting place. If you don’t have the ability to go to another planet, it’s probably the closest thing to being in another world. Here are a few websites with some interesting Vegas facts (note that a few are out-of-date on some information …).

34 Things First-Time Visitors Need To Know About Las Vegas

50 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Las Vegas

Vegas Legal

From Ladah Law in Las Vegas comes “The Best of the Best in Vegas.” It’s their round-up of places worth knowing or checking out. There is also a section half way down the page on the “Worst that Could Happen in Vegas,” which shows some unfortunate accidents (where legal services were presumably needed). Keep in mind that this is a legal firm and it’s part of their business and note that this is not an endorsement for any company or business by myself, Radio World, or Future Inc., but just provided as a story link since it contains some useful information. The “worst of” is an interesting combination of links to unfortunate events that happened in Vegas to individuals. In addition to events like the ones listed, there are other tragic stories like the MGM fire (now Bally’s Las Vegas) in 1980 and the terrible shooting last year during a concert. These should serve to remind you to be aware of your surroundings and know how to escape and what to do in the event of an emergency. Even as a young Airman in the U.S. Air Force in the mid-1980s, overseas we were taught to always be aware of our surroundings and have some sort of escape plan in the event of an emergency. Remember, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

And Finally … Shows, Shows, Shows!

Hey, “This is Vegas, baby!” There are so many excellent shows that you should really try to see one (or two). You can find show discounts, hit Vegas show “discount stands,” or show up at the box office just before showtime for better pricing. I've seen everything from “Starlight Express,” “EFX Alive” (now “KA,” which I’ve also seen), “Zumanity,” “The Beatles Love” (STILL my all-time favorite).

This is not an endorsement of this or any company, but with most shows, if you get “last minute tickets” (and not from people standing on the street but at the box office or legit sellers), you can get substantial discounts for shows (as it’s better to sell a cheap seat than leave the seat empty). I work with a fellow who worked for Cirque du Soleil and has friends who work on “The Beatles Love” show. He’s the one who mentioned this particular ticket dealer as a good way to get discounted tickets (and I’ve ignored these ticket brokers for years … go figure!) My friend did say that it’s a little bit of a hassle as you still need to go to the box office even after you get the tickets through the broker, but he said “for the good 40% discount, it’s worth the extra little effort.” But like anything I find, I’d invite you to do your own research and check into these.

So, have fun, learn a lot, stay safe, and remember that the Vegas nickname is Lost Wages for a reason. Be smart about “dropping nickels in the ‘one-armed’ bandits”!

If you have any post-show info you think is worth passing along next year, please let me know. My email address is dan_slentz@yahoo.com.

WASHINGTON—For the second year in a row, FCC chair Ajit Pai has pulled out of his appearance at the Consumer Technology Association's CES in Las Vegas next week.

Pai was to have been interviewed in a "Fireside Chat" with CES president Gary Shapiro, which has become something of a tradition. But Pai's office said the government shutdown—and uncertainty about how long it would last—precipitated the decision.

It is not clear whether commissioner Brendan Carr, who also planned to attend to kick the tires on new tech, will be making the trip or canceling due to the shutdown. Carr's office was not available for comment.

Commissioners are still able to work in the office because they are essential personnel, but travel budgets are expected to be curtailed during a shutdown.

“Because of the government shutdown, some of our scheduled government speakers at CES® 2019 have alerted us that they must cancel their travel to the show," said Shapiro. "As a result, some of our scheduled CES 2019 programming and speakers will change. We urge attendees who planned to hear U.S. federal government speakers to check the sessions on the website to ensure those individuals are still speaking. Our Speakers Directory can be found here. This page will be updated regularly.”